Best of south africa vol7

The BEST OF
AFRICA
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Best of South Africa 1
International Group Publisher Sven Boermeester
SADC Group Publisher Thapelo Letsholo
Best of SA Publisher Gia Bischofberger
Managing Editor Rebecca Eb
Sales and Marketing Gia Bischofberger, Yvonne Sinclair, La-Toia Marescia
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“Best of South Africa” Volume 7 is a celebration of the country’s role within its
region and the African continent. This is an exciting time for African growth as
we begin to see intra-African trade coming to the fore through partnerships
such as BRICS as well as the EAC-COMESA-SADC Tripartite Agreement.
South Africa retains the golden key as the gateway into Africa, and as a result,
has taken note of the immense growth happening outside its borders.
Best of South Africa is a showcase of the success of varied and valued
enterprises in both private and public sectors and sets the benchmark as we
grow our publishing series throughout the continent of Africa. To effectively
bring together the growing Best of Africa series through Global Village Africa,
we have launched Proudly African. Hosted at www.proudlyafrican.info, this
initiative serves as a united platform to showcase and brand Africa.
Ultimately we showcase and connect successful governments, companies
and individuals that are spearheading Africa’s incredible growth. We have
had our work cut out for us having to keep up with the rapid pace of South
Africa’s developments. There have been a number of significant events which
warranted attention in this volume of Best of South Africa.
Most notable are the developments of Future Of Trade Africa and Proudly
African which have fittingly aligned with SAITEX 2012. Since the concept of
Future Of Trade Africa was conceptualised in 2011, it has taken off on a global
scale, with future events planned for India, China and the Middle East.
The massive infrastructure drive taking place in the country is evidence of the
government’s jobs initiative and has seen a number of key developments and
partnerships arise up out of South Africa’s rich soil. Notable growth areas in
the country are Cape Town, Durban, and Ekurhuleni. We also seem to still be
on the crest of the wave generated after hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and
the tourism industry has regenerated as a result.
Our hope is that Best of South Africa will inspire further success for the country
– and generate more stories for us to continue sharing.
Enjoy our latest treasure.
South Africa the Golden Key
Thapelo Letsholo Sven Boermeester Gia Bischofberger
GVPedia.comSuccess, Sustainability and Culture

Best of South Africa2
CHAPTERS
Best of South Africa
Chapter1 62
Gateway to Africa
Chapter3 98
Hotels, Lodges and Safaris
Chapter5 128
Dining, Nightlife and Entertainment
Chapter7 154
Corporate Profiles
Chapter2 86
Moloko Investment Group
Chapter4 110
Travel, Tours and Aviation
Chapter6 144
Healthcare
Chapter8 172
Entrepreneurship

siemens.com/answers
Every day in Africa more and more people are moving to
urban areas. This is creating an urgent demand for the
development of better, more sustainable infrastructures.
Already we’re at work in major cities like Lagos and
Algiers, helping ensure a reliable electricity supply to
power economic growth and infrastructure development.
Our efficient rail technologies in Johannesburg are
transporting commuters safely and keeping the economy
on track. With our water technologies, more people in
Dar es Salaam have access to clean drinking water. And
our medical equipment is providing citizens of Nairobi
with affordable healthcare.
We’re working with African cities today to create answers
that will last for generations to come.
Building cities worth
building a future in.
Siemens provides answers for Africa‘s rapidly growing cities.

182
Transport, Logistics and Supply Chain
Chapter11 210
Food, Beverage and Hospitality
Chapter13 236
Future of Trade Africa
Chapter10 194
Agribusiness
Chapter12 214
Conferencing, Exhibitions and Media
CHAPTERS
Best of South Africa

South Africa at a Glance
South Africa’s continental footprint.
Size: 1,219,090 km2
Coastline
South Africa has a coastline of
2500km long stretching around the
southern tip of Africa from its border
with Mozambique on the Indian Ocean
side, to its border with Namibia on the
Atlantic side.
Key Economic Sectors
Mining, transport, energy,
manufacturing, tourism, agriculture.
Population: 50,586,757
Official languages
• English
• isiZulu
• isiXhosa
• isiNdebele
• Afrikaans
• siSwati
• Sesotho sa Leboa
• Sesotho
• Setswana
• Tshivenda
• Xitsonga
Government
Constitutional multiparty, three-tier
(local, provincial, national) democracy.
Capitals
• Pretoria (administrative)
• Cape Town (legislative)
• Bloemfontein (judicial)
The Constitutional Court is in
Johannesburg.

Provinces
• Free State
• Eastern Cape
• Gauteng
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Limpopo
• Mpumalanga
• Northern Cape
• North West
• Western Cape
Currency: Rand (ZAR).
Time: GMT +2 hours
Transportation
Excellent roads, rail and air facilities
(domestic and international).
Telecommunications
Infrastructure world-class; internet
access wide; four cellular networks.
Value-added tax: Levied at 14%.
Health
• Top-quality throughout the country
(basic in rural areas).
• Inoculations only required
from yellow-fever areas; some
malaria areas.
South Africa has enjoyed the
benefits of its unique positioning at
the bottom of the African continent,
sharing borders with six other
countries as well as the advantage
of two oceans – the Atlantic and the
Indian. As the base of the African

continent, South Africa has taken on
the role as the foundation of African
trade and industry. Positioning
as well as foreign relations have
contributed to South Africa’s
gateway status, with further growth
and investment opportunities in the
pipeline. The time for Africa is now
and the call for intra-African trade is
being heard.
The tip of Africa
This does not necessarily mean
that South Africa dictates trade
specifications on the continent, but
as the gateway to Africa, South
Africa has paved the way for future
growth and prosperity. This is largely
due to its exposure which it has used
to change the perception of business
and development in Africa. South
Africa’s footprint is firmly cemented
in African soil, which is evident in
the number of heavyweight South
African companies with expansion
plans in Africa.
South Africa’s authoritative voice
is respected in African economics
and politics and it enjoys numerous

mutually beneficial relationships with
fellow African countries. Foreign
policy is imperative to the South
African economy – most vital in
this are relations within Africa as
this position entices trade and
investment from even further afield.
The current drive is to increase intra-
African trade as African countries
have much to benefit from one
another.
Africa’s next move
Past patterns have seen Africa
relying on foreign trade and
investment. Africa is realising that
collectively, they hold all the cards to
economic growth through numerous
resources. The success will be in
strengthening the hand by playing
the cards together. Africa’s current
role is as dealer of the most desired
resources in the world and needs
to be careful of relinquishing them
completely. But Africa is also in
a unique position where they can
decide whether or not to deal out
their resources to the world in return
for other necessary commodities,
such as infrastructure, or Africa can
become completely self-sufficient. In
order to embark on the latter path,
Africa needs a regulator – which is
where South Africa could potentially
step in, not as dictator, but as
negotiator and mediator.
BRICS
This may be even more necessary
with the BRICS group now gaining
direct access to the continent through
South Africa. Africa is the third fastest
growth region behind China and India
with a $2.6-billion revenue opportunity
as identified by McKinsey. The
continent has a wealth of unexploited
minerals as well as 60% of the
world’s uncultivated agricultural land.
As South Africa is the 27th
biggest
economy in the world with a GDP of
$354-billion according to the IMF. As
a first-tier emerging market, South
Africa’s inclusion in BRICS presents
the group with the opportunity of
representing the emerging world in the
greatest sense. The main difference
between South Africa and the rest of
the BRICS members is that

South Africa is still emerging, while
the others have now achieved more
established markets. This accolade
speaks volumes about South Africa’s
potential and has essentially linked the
country to over 1-billion consumers in
the member regions.
Future Visions
South Africa has set up its ‘New
Growth Path’ to maintain the
momentum gained since democracy
was born. The vision is to create a
competitive, fair and socially beneficial
economy with employment at the
centre of the policy. The New Growth
Plan is also responsible for identifying
investments which align with the plan
for advancement in infrastructure.
Through the provision of large scale
sustainable job creation, trade,
innovation and economic growth
will emerge with a target of 7% per
year, further cementing South Africa’s
position as an attractive investment
destination.
Favourable investment conditions
South Africa enjoys a stable
democracy which is supported by
stringent financial policies. South
Africa offers world class business
models as well as modern financial
systems which present a more than
adequate gateway for investments
into Africa. Out of Africa’s 10 largest
companies, eight are South African
based. It’s rating as a top-20 economy
for foreign direct investment further
supports this positioning. The
country’s stable outlook can be
attributed to its slick recovery from
recession as well as its vast mineral
wealth. South African soil guards
some of the largest deposits of gold,
chromium, platinum and manganese
in the world. Business conditions in
South Africa are made even more
favourable through its high quality
institutions, stringent protection of
intellectual property as well as the
stability and regulation of the financial
sector.
Improved competitiveness
South Africa is unique for investors
in Africa as it offers them the stability
of a developed country but also
a nurtured growth climate of an
emerging market. It is also the most

competitive country in the region.
The Global Competitiveness Index
for South Africa was shown to have
improved to 50th
in rankings at the
World Economic Forum. Out of the
142 countries, South Africa came
out first in exchange regulation
and second in bank soundness.
Overall, South Africa came out tops
in sub-Saharan Africa and second
in Africa after Tunisia. Among the
BRICS partners, South Africa came
out second to China. This regain
can be attributed to the movements
in private institution accountability,
investor protection and technology;
proving that there is trust in South
Africa.
The country was ranked:
• 1st for regulation of securities
exchange.
• 1st for strength of auditing and
reporting standards.
• 2nd for soundness of banks.
• 2nd for efficacy of corporate
boards.
• 3rd for protection of minority
shareholders’ interests.
• 3rd for availability of financial
services.
• 4th for financing through the local
equities market.
• 7th for effectiveness of anti-
monopoly policy.
• 8th for legal rights.

Africa’s moment
Africa was the centre of attention at
the WEF in Davos, Switzerland and
was identified as a key player in global
transformation, especially after more
diversified economies are created
throughout Africa. A free trade area
is expected to be running in Africa
by 2017, known as the “Continental
Free Trade Area” (CFTA). This was
signed to life by the African Union
and will be achieved through a three-
step plan. This area will be made up
of a tripartite agreement of the East
African Community, the COMESA, and
SADC, which will then be united with
the other African trade blocs. Another
major indicator of Africa’s resilience is
in its evident market soundness in the
face of global economic recession.
South Africa has indicated its
necessary commitment to increasing
intra-African trade as well as through
trade with other developing countries.
According to the IMF, Africa’s
economy is set to grow by more than
5% before 2014. There have been
many predictions that Africa will
become the next major area of growth
worldwide. This is achievable through
increased partnerships between the
public and private sectors. As a result,
South Africa is spearheading plans to
develop the much needed north-south
corridor, which will create endless
investment opportunities.
The hub of Africa
South Africa has emerged as the
hub for serving African markets.
Many international companies use
South Africa as their base to expand
into the region. Other hubs are
emerging in East, West and North
Africa so as to ensure wide scale
infiltration. These hubs are working
together more and more. The
capabilities of South African systems

have allowed the development of
multinationals to launch into Africa
and its opportunities. The platform
South Africa provides is as a
result of its market size, economic
development, regulations and skills.
The infrastructure offered is the best
in the region. With over 25% of the
continent’s GDP and 70% of leading
African businesses, South Africa is
the gateway to Africa. One of the
major benefits of South Africa’s
expansion of companies into Africa
was to highlight and uncover the
vast opportunities present on the
continent. This has ensured that
growth strategy has become highly
Africa-centric. The main sectors of the
African economy which led the way of
expanding in Africa are mining, retail,
construction, manufacturing, financial,
telecommunications and tourism.
Johannesburg Stock Exchange
South Africa is also home to the
biggest stock exchange on the
continent. The Johannesburg Stock
Exchange (JSE) has the 14th largest
equities exchange in securities
in the world, with a total market
capitalisation of R2.3-trillion.
Key institutions
South Africa is a member of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF),

the World Bank, the World Trade
Organisation, the United Nations,
G20, Southern African Development
Community, and the African Union.
South Africa’s role in helping shape
governance and trade extends
beyond the continent.
Provinces
South Africa has nine provinces of
varying size. Gauteng is the smallest
but has the most people per square
capita and is highly urbanised. The
largest province is the Northern
Cape, taking up almost a third of
the total land area of the country;
however it is arid and mostly empty.
Borders
South Africa shares borders with
Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe,
Mozambique, Swaziland and
Lesotho. The mountainous country
of Lesotho is an enclaved country
which is completely surrounded

by South Africa – one of only three
sovereign countries in the world to
carry this status.
Cities
Although Pretoria is the ultimate
capital city, South Africa has three
capital cities. Cape Town in the
Western Cape is the legislative
capital and is where Parliament
resides. Bloemfontein in the Free
State is the judicial capital and
houses the Supreme Court of
Appeal. Pretoria in Gauteng is
the administrative Capital and
houses the Union Buildings
and the majority of civil service.
Johannesburg is the most
prominent of South Africa’s cities as
it is considered to be the economic
heart of the country. Durban and
Pietermaritzburg in Kwa-Zulu Natal
as well as Port Elizabeth in the
Eastern Cape are also important
South African cities.

Climate and topography
The climate and topography of South
Africa varies widely, although it is
classified as semi-arid. There are
seven major biomes or ecological
types in South Africa. By definition,
each one has distinctive climate
conditions and relative flora and fauna.
The dry Karoo region is a vast inland
plateau of scrubland and rocky hills.
The extreme contrast to the lush
eastern coastline as well as the less
sub-tropical Garden Route is what
makes South Africa so unique. But
even the coastlines vary widely in
climate – the windy south-western
coast is Mediterranean in climate with
wet summers and hot dry winters. The
flat semi-arid Free State landscape is
a stark contrast to the Drakensburg

Mountains of South Africa’s eastern
escarpment. The cooler Highveld
receives slightly more rain than the
Free State. The Lowveld is significantly
hotter and is known for its Bushveld
which is the habitat of South Africa’s
famous wildlife.
The coldest place in South Africa
is the town Sutherland in the western
Roggeveld Mountains, which can
reach lows of -15ºC in midwinter. The
hottest places are found in the deep
interior where the Kalahari enters the
country, having reached 51.7 ºC near
Upington in the Northern Cape in
1948.
Oceans and rivers
Neighboured by both the Atlantic and
the Indian Oceans, South Africa’s
ocean territory includes Marion Island
and Prince Edward Island which are
1,769 km south-east of Port Elizabeth
in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean. The
country’s climate is greatly affected by
the two ocean currents which sweep
up the coastline. The cold plankton
rich Benguela current moves up the
Atlantic coast, creating some of the
world’s best fishing grounds. The
warm waters of the Mozambique/
Agulhas current sweep down the

east coast and determine the rainfall
patterns from its vast amounts of
ready evaporation.
Richard’s Bay and Durban in
KwaZulu-Natal are the country’s (and
two of Africa’s) busiest harbours. In
the Eastern Cape there is also East
London and Port Elizabeth, while in
the Western Cape there is Mossel Bay
and Cape Town.
There are numerous rivers in
South Africa but the main rivers are
the Limpopo and the Orange (and its
tributary, the Vaal). Dams and irrigation
are extremely important in the dry
interiors of the country. The largest
dam is the Gariep on the Orange River.
South Africa’s physical beauty,
positioning at the tip of Africa, and
many assets and resources make it
an ideal investment destination. It is
easy to understand the excitement
surrounding the country’s envisioned
future and growth.

Tourism in South Africa
A guide to the attractions of South Africa’s provinces.
Gauteng
With one of the best climates in the
world, Gauteng is a prime destination
to visit all year round. Attractions
range from the vibrant Johannesburg
and Pretoria city centres, fantastic
nightlife, numerous markets, sprawling
parks, botanical gardens, nature and
wildlife reserves, and museums.
• The Soweto township
experience includes the Hector
Petersen memorial, Nelson
Mandela’s old Orlando residence,
a local ‘Shebeen’ food and drink
experience, and the Apartheid
Museum.
• Gold Reef City Amusement
park offers a mix of family and
adventure entertainment.

• Africa’s shopping Mecca: Sandton
City, Nelson Mandela Square, Mall
of Rosebank, Eastgate, Greenstone
Mall, Hyde Park, Cresta, Melrose
Arch, Northgate, Southgate, The
Glen, Clearwater Mall, Maponya
Mall, Dobsonville, Fourways Mall,
Westgate and Carlton Centre.
• Museum Africa and Market
Theatre complex are steeped in
South African cultural history.
• Constitution Hill including the new
Constitutional Court on the site of
the Old Fort Prison.
• The Nelson Mandela Bridge joins
Constitution Hill to Newtown as a
symbol of hope and renewal.
• The Cradle of Humankind is a
World Heritage Site and home to
the Sterkfontein Caves where nearly
half the world’s hominoid fossils
have been discovered including
Mrs Ples, the first identified
“missing link”.
• The Wonder Cave is two billion
years-old.
• The Rhino and Lion Nature
Reserve and The Ann van Dyk
Cheetah Centre are popular
places to view Africa’s big cats
and the endangered rhino.
• The Union Buildings are an
architectural masterpiece
designed by Sir Herbert Baker in
Pretoria, or the ‘Jacaranda City’.
• The Voortrekker Monument was
completed in 1949 as a tribute to
the pioneering Boer families.
• Pretoria’s National Zoological
Gardens is home to 4,300
animals from every continent.
• The Tswaing Meteorite Crater
is a salty wetland conservation
area and home to numerous
bird, plant and small mammal
species.
• The FNB Stadium, also known
as ‘Soccer City’, is an impressive
stadium that was the home of
the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
www.gauteng.net

North West
The North West Province is the
heritage destination of South Africa
and is a haven for geology and
archaeology. It also offers the contrast
of solitude and adventure. The
Madikwe Game Reserve in the far
north is one of the province’s jewels.
• The Anglo Boer War began from
what was then the Transvaal. The
notorious Jameson Raid was
launched from Mahikeng.
• Museums abound in the North
West, such as Klerksdorp and
Mafikeng.
• Arts and Crafts can be found
in wide variety at The North
West Craft and Design Institute,
Amogelang, and the Art Factory,
among many others.
• The Rant van Tweedepoort and
the Dwarsberg Mountains are
ideal for Big Five viewing.
• Pilanesberg Game Reserve
is part of the wave of hills from
an enormous volcanic eruption
millions of years ago and is ideal
for Big Five viewing.
• Reserves abound with 13
located in the province, offering
spectacular game viewing and
birding.
• The Vredefort Dome is a World
Heritage Site of the oldest and
largest known meteorite impact
area on earth.
• Sun City is renowned for its hotels
which form an oasis including
golf courses, Valley of the Waves,
Animal World, dining, nightlife,
theatre, movies, a casino, and
numerous outdoor activities.
• Golf is ideal considering the
perfect climate and weather
experienced in the province
throughout the year.
• The world’s longest zip slide
is one of many adventures to be
found in the province, as well as
the Magaliesburg Canopy Tour.
• The Taung Heritage Site is the
site of the famous Taung Skull
found in 1924.
• Groot Marico, Mafikeng, and
Lesedi Cultural Village are
worthwhile towns to visit.
• Hartbeestport Dam is a perfect
weekend getaways and water
sports enthusiasts nestled in an
ideal location with access to many
major attractions.
• The Modern industrial parks and
commercial centres complimented
by sophisticated banking and
financial services have made the
North West an ideal investment
destination.
www.tourismnorthwest.co.za

Limpopo
The most northerly province in South
Africa is steeped in ancient history
and culture. Fossils conjure up life
as it was over three million years ago
and relics have been dated back to
the Stone and Iron Ages. Limpopo is
the eco-tourism destination of South
Africa with its many parks.
• Africa’s Big Five occur in many of
the game and nature reserves in
Limpopo.
• There are 50 national, provincial
and Transfrontier parks in
Limpopo.
• Kruger National Park is world-
renowned and ranks among the
best parks in Africa as well as one
of the oldest and largest, and is the
flagship of South Africa’s parks.
• Thohoyandou is the
administrative, commercial and
legislative capital of the Venda
community.
• Venda artwork is renowned and
includes wood carvings, pottery,
and weaving basket ware.
• The Soutpansberg is ideal for
climbing, hiking, hunting, viewing
indigenous cycads and baobabs,
and 4x4 adventure drives.
• Bela-Bela in the Waterberg
Region is famous for its hot
springs.

• Makuya Park Game Reserve
is home to the largest baobab at
2000 years-old.
• Lapalala Wilderness is an
extensive privately owned reserve.
• Nysvlei Nature Reserve floodplain
is a RAMSAR site and a treasure
trove for bird-watchers.
• African Ivory Route is one of the
best eco-adventures in Southern
Africa and includes a number of
camps to choose from. The route
goes through five mountain ranges
in remote and stunning wilderness,
and vibrant local villages.
• Mythology and legends abound
in Limpopo, which is the home of
fabled Rain Queen Modjadji and
protected by the python god of
fertility.
• Limpopo is the gateway into the
rest of Africa with access to the
borders of Botswana, Zimbabwe
and Mozambique.
• The Limpopo and Shashe Rivers
converge in Limpopo.
• The great ruins of Mapungubwe
are an archaeological destination
and World Heritage Site.
• The Makapan Caves in Makapan
Valley is the only cultural heritage
site of its kind. It has a history of
the Ndebele people and resistance
wars dating back 151 years.
• Amarula Cream Liqueur comes
from Limpopo and the Amarula
Lapa is a promotional tasting and
tourist visitor centre situated 10 km
outside Phalaborwa.

www.golimpopo.com
Mpumalanga
Southeast of Limpopo and known
as the “place where the sun rises”,
Mpumalanga is situated on a lofty
escarpment with rolling grasslands
and lush wetlands. This land with its
magnificent views has been dubbed
“God’s own country”.
• The Highlands Meander is a
major tourist attraction of rivers,
dams, and quaint villages.
• Ruins of forts and soldiers’
graves abound near Dullstroom
and are reminders of the Anglo-
Boer War.
• Verloren Vallei Nature Reserve is
an international RAMSAR wetlands
site that shelters three of the
world’s endangered crane species.
• The Oosterlijyn Express Train
runs between Machadodorp and
Waterval Boven.
• From Mpumalanga’s extensive

cliffs, paragliding, hang-gliding,
abseiling, and rock climbing is
available.
• The Museum of the Lydenberg
Heads is home to mysterious
pottery masks.
• Belfast and Waterval Onder are
towns worth a visit.
• The Panorama Route includes
God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck
Potholes and the Three Rondawels.
• Blyde River Canyon is the world’s
biggest green canyon of cascading
waterfalls, offering White River
rafting, bungee jumping, hot air
ballooning, and walking trails.
• Mac-Mac Falls and Lisbon Falls
are spectacular sightings.
• Pilgrim’s Rest is a picturesque
museum town.
• Known as the Cultural Heartland,
Ndebele beadwork and crafts
abound.
• Nyani Shangaan Cultural Village
and Matsulu Village offer authentic
Shangaan cuisine.
• Kruger National Park also falls in
Mpumalanga’s territory.
• Bushman rock paintings and
archaeological sites abound in
Mpumalanga.
• Known as Cosmos Country,
Mpumalanga’s landscape is painted
pink and white with these autumn
flowers.
• Chrissiesmeer is South Africa’s
largest true freshwater lake and the
surrounding area is known as South
Africa’s ‘Lake District’ and is a
breeding ground for Flamingos.
• The Le Goya ruins are 1,000 year-
old ruins of the first inhabitants of
the area.
• The Sudwala caves are the oldest
known caves in the world and
are next to the Dinosaur Park. A
monthly crystal tour is arranged
2000 metres into the cave to a
crystal chamber.
www.mpumalanga.com
KwaZulu-Natal
The Zulu Kingdom is flanked by the
warm Indian Ocean and soaring
peaks of the majestic Drakensburg
Mountains. Its tropical climate and
wide variety of coastal resorts makes
this province perfect for beach holidays
all year round – which is why it is the
domestic tourism leader in South
Africa.
• The Elephant Coast along
Zululand is the big game country of
KwaZulu Natal

• The Greater St Lucia Wetlands
Park is a World Heritage Site on
the Lake St Lucia estuary.
• Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park and
Phinda Game Reserve are
popular game reserves to visit.
• Shakaland and Gingindlovu lie at
the heart of Zululand.
• The Vukani Collection Museum
in Eshowe houses a collection of
Zulu art.
• Zulu king Cetshwayo’s royal
kraal reconstruction gives insight
into Zulu history, customs and
culture.
• Sodwana Bay is a warm-water
haven for scuba divers.
• Durban is a melting pot of
cultures, theatres and music
venues.
• Ushaka Marine World is a
popular Aquarium and Wet ’n Wild
amusement park
• Durban harbour is the Africa’s
busiest general cargo ports and
one of the largest and busiest
container terminals in the Southern
hemisphere.
• Gateway Theatre of Shopping is
Durban’s entertainment centre and
includes The Wave House (world’s
only double Point Break wave), The
Rock (world’s highest free-standing
indoor climbing wall), 4D Motion
Simulator, arcades, cinemas,
theatre, and the ScienCentre.
• The North Coast or Dolphin
Coast, nestled along sugar
country, is a popular beach

destination with the town of Ballito
maintaining a unique small-town
feel in contrast to its massive
growth.
• The South Coast features an
annual spectacle known as the
Sardine Run, which is one of
nature’s mysteries.
• The Natal Midlands is popular
for its scenic Midlands Meander
and proximity to the Drakensburg,
battlefield tours, hiking, horse
riding and trout fishing.
• Pietermaritzburg is the capital
of the province, known as the
best-preserved Victorian city in
the country and home to Mahatma
Ghandi’s statue in commemoration
of his refusal to leave his train’s
first-class ‘white’s only’
compartment in 1893.
• The Drakensberg is the highest
mountain range in southern Africa.
Known as the ‘Barrier of Spears’,
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
World Heritage Site is adorned
with Stone Age cave paintings.
www.zulu.org.za
The Free State
At the heart of South Africa, the
farmlands of The Free State are
separated by vast prairie sprinkled with
sleepy towns. It is steeped in history,
has good infrastructure and a low
crime-rate. Harvest celebrations and
festivals are important dates on the
calendars of locals and visitors alike.
• The Maluti Route is a scenic route
through the highlands into Lesotho.
• Fouriesburg is famous for its
Cherry picking and the annual
Asparagus Festival.
• The Diamond and Wine Route
is a trail of the histories of the
Lejweleputswa gold mines and
diamond prospectors.
• The Jagersfontein’s diamond
mine entrance surpasses
Kimberley’s Big Hole in size.
• Landzicht and Wilreza’s wine
cellars are worth a visit in the
charming Jacobsdal area.
• The Anglo-Boer War battlefields
are home to monuments, war
museums and concentration
camps.
• Thabo Mofutsanyana is known for
its archaeological treasures, snow-
capped mountains and fertile valley
hiking trails.
• Clarens is a scenic and arty town
on the Maluti mountain range and
is close to dinosaur fossils.
• The BBT Heritage Route links
Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and
Thaba Nchu.
• The Capital Bloemfontein is
known as the “City of Roses” and
has spectacular Botanical Gardens.
• The Basotho Cultural Village
lies in the heart of the spectacular
Qwaqwa National Park.
• The Steam Train Route offers
enthusiasts a trip along the historic
Bethlehem-Bloemfontein Railroad.
• Golden Gate Highlands National
Park consists of brilliant sandstone
cliffs and is home to The Sentinel
Rock, which is the most northern
point of the Drakensburg and the
source of the Tugela River.

• Gariep Dam Nature Reserves is
the province’s largest reserve and
is a popular fishing and boating
attraction.
• Free State Goldfields is home to
the country’s largest gold-mining
complex.
• Sterkfontein Dam lies in the
foothills of the Drakensburg and is
an extensive conservation area.
• The Vaal Dam is a popular holiday
area with fishermen and boaters.
www.freestatetourism.org
Northern Cape
Land of desert and diamonds,
the Northern Cape is home to the
region’s oldest inhabitants, the San or
Bushman tribes of the Kalahari Desert.
Prolific rock-art in the area depicts
their hunting trips and expeditions.
• San or Bushman tribes of the
Kalahari Desert were the oldest
inhabitants of South Africa and
Khoisan Rock Art is prolific
throughout the Karoo.
• Cairns and graves are prolific and
left behind from the Stone Age.
• The Roaring Kalahari Route
is the best way to get close to
the peace and tranquillity of this
unique desert.
• The Red Dune Route, named
after the red sands of the Northern
Cape, traverses a beautiful yet
remote area.
• The Eye of Kuruman is the largest
natural fountain in the southern
hemisphere.
• The Kimberley Big Hole is the
largest man-made excavation site
in the world at 215m deep and
1,6km across, having wielded
2722kgs of diamonds between
1871 and 1914.
• The Belgravia historic walk
takes visitors through Kimberly’s
Victorian architecture.
• The Green Kalahari is an
expansive tract of shimmering
desert sand and the Riemvasmaak
Desert Wilderness and hot spring
is one of its gems.
• The Orange River is popular with

white-water river rafters and is a
vineyard oasis.
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
is home to the honey badger,
pangolin and bat-eared fox.
• The Namaqualand is home to
over 4,000 plant species and the
Namakwa flowers are a unique
spectacle in spring throughout
the Namaqua National Park.
• Springbok near the Goegap
Nature Reserve is a popular
flower route in the Hester Malan
Wildflower Reserve.
• The Richtersveld Cultural
and Botanical Landscape is
a World Heritage Site and is a
mountainous desert owned and
managed by descendents of the
Khoi-Khoi people.
• Augrabies Falls National Park
is where the thunderous Orange
River plunges an estimated 60
metres.
• Vaalharts Valley is part of the
growing Agri-tourism movement
and is one of the largest irrigation
schemes in the world as its
canals water over 1000 farms.
• Vanderkloof Dam is South
Africa’s second biggest dam and
has the highest dam wall but is
also a holiday resort.
• The South African Astronomical
Observatory makes use of the
Northern Cape’s clear starlit skies
and will be home to SALT, the
world’s largest telescope.
www.northerncape.org.za
Eastern Cape
The province of contrasts offers
isolated beaches, mountain forests
and Karoo plains. The tradition and
heritage resonates with the natural
beauty of the land as culture and
nature work seamlessly together.
• The Amatola Mountains has a
number of beautiful trails through
the Hogsback forest.
• Camdeboo National Park’s
Valley of Desolation is famous
for its unique rock formations.
• Steve Biko and Nelson Mandela
were both born in the Eastern
Cape.
• Blaauwkrans Bridge offers the
world’s highest bungee jump.
• The Karoo Heartland contrasts
with the Storms River Village
leading to the Sunshine Coast.
• The Addo Elephant Park offers
a malaria free African experience.
• Mountain Zebra National Park
has been significant in conserving
numbers of the unique mountain
zebra and is hailed as a
conservation success story.
• Shamwari Game Reserve is a
private and luxurious option of
game viewing.
• Seaview Lion Park has a
successful white lion breeding
project.
• Activities in the province include
wild trout fishing, boating, snow
skiing at Tiffindell (Africa’s only
ski resort), hiking, hunting, and
viewing rock-art and engravings.
• Port Elizabeth is renowned
for its surfing, bodysurfing,
windsurfing and waterskiing.
• Grahamstown is a frontier town
which hosts its world-famous
National Arts Festival
• Jeffrey’s Bay is a famous surf
spot.
• East London has South Africa’s
only river port.
• The Garden Route includes the
scenery along St. Francis Bay,
Oyster Bay and Mossel Bay.
• Kenton-on-Sea and Port
Alfred are holiday towns offering
fantastic swimming, surfing,
sailing, water-skiing, boardsailing,
and boating.
• Xhosa cultural rites and
ceremonies can be viewed in
Khaya La Bantu Culture Village.

• Fort Hare University is the alma
mater of Nelson Mandela and
Oliver Tambo and houses the
Liberation Archives.
• The Steve Biko Garden of
Remembrance is in King
Williams Town.
• The Wild Coast is a remote and
rustic area offering beach horse-
rides, scuba diving and angling.
• The Nelson Mandela National
Museum holds personal
artefacts such as a signed
boxing glove given to Nelson
Mandela by Muhammed Ali.
www.ectourism.co.za
Western Cape
The fairest Cape is home to one of
South Africa’s most famous tourist
attractions - the magical city of
Cape Town and the backdrop of
Table Mountain. Also known as wine
country, the Western Cape offers a
diversity of attractions.
• Table Mountain offers
panoramic views of Cape Town
and Robben Island and is a
natural heritage site due to its
numerous types of flora and
fynbos.
• Robben Island is where Nelson
Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years
in prison.
• Greenmarket Square includes the
attractions of the Grand Parade,
the Castle of Good Hope, the
District Six Museum, St George’s
Cathedral and the Bo-Kaap
Museum.
• Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is
the prime shopping and dining area
of the city of Cape Town.
• Pristine beaches are renowned
in Cape Town, including Clifton,
Camps Bay, Muizenberg and
Kommektjie, while Boulder’s Bay is
famous for its penguins.
• Fishhoek, Hout Bay and Kalk Bay
are beautiful coastal hamlet towns.
• The Cape of Good Hope and
Cape Hangklip mark either side of
False Bay.
• Cape Agulhas is the southern-
most tip of Africa and marks the
place where the Atlantic Ocean
meets the Indian Ocean, although
the shifting currents of the cold
Benguela and warm Agulhas
ensure this occasionally differs.

• Shipwrecks are scattered all the
way along the Cape coastline,
owing to the nickname the ‘Cape
of storms’.
• Dyer Island Nature Reserve and
Geyser Rock Island
• Cage Diving is popular in the
narrow channel known as ‘Great
White Shark Capital of the World’.
• Hermanus is a coastal town with
spectacular Southern Right Whale
sightings.
• The Cape Winelands is a
scenic area whose vineyards
have produced South Africa’s
spectacular quality wine.
• Stellenbosch, Franschhoek,
Darling and Paarl are popular and
scenic towns.
• Rivers in the wine country include
Swartland, Olifants River and
Breede River Valley.
• Indigenous flower trails offer
firsthand experience with this
unique biome of flora (Klein and
Central Karoo).
• Intriguing Geology can be
found in Khoi-San rock-art and
fascinating rock distortions such as
the Cango Caves.
• The Garden Route travels through
parts of the Western Cape as it
hugs the coastline between Mossel
Bay and Storms River mouth,
with its greatest attractions being
the Tsitsikamma National Park,
Plettenberg Bay and Knysna
Forest.
www.capetourism.org

Hosting mega-events
South Africa has shown the world how it’s done.
With a string of sporting achievements
behind its name, South Africa has
more than proven its capability in
hosting mega-events. Mega-events
are mostly sports-centred; and in a
sport-loving nation like South Africa,
one can expect the utmost care and
passion as a host. After successfully
bidding to host the 2010 FIFA World
Cup, South Africa proved all its critics
wrong in pulling off one of the most
successful and memorable World
Cups in FIFA history. However, this
was not only an event for South Africa,
but also a feather in the cap of Africa.
This went to prove that developing
countries can host sustainable mega-
events.
Mega-events draw hoards of
international visitors which directly
contribute to the host country’s
economy. The exposure which came
with hosting the world’s biggest
sporting event was invaluable – it
doesn’t hurt either that the South
African economy was boosted by

R3.6-billion and saw 309,000 visitors
passing through. This is indeed a
lasting legacy which has imprinted
itself in the minds and hearts of
Africans, as well as on the tourism
industry. The legacy left behind is that
of infrastructure, economic growth,
skills, jobs, nation building, and
branding. Since hosting the event,
South Africa has gained prestige
and notice – officially putting Africa
on the map. Foreign commerce has
increased as investors took notice of
the modernisation of the country.
South Africa has successfully
hosted a number of sporting events,
although on a lesser scale than the
FIFA World Cup. These include a
combination of international events,
such as the Rugby World Cup, Cricket

World Cup, A1 Grand Prix, Indian
Premier League, World Cups of Golf,
Athletics, and Swimming, as well as
a number of home-grown events.
South Africa was also awarded the
honour of hosting the 2013 Africa
Cup of Nations after Libya was forced
to withdraw as hosts. This cements
South Africa’s position as leader of
hosting successful major international
sporting events.
The prestigious FIFA World Cup
presented a new opportunity to
highlight South Africa’s position
as the gateway to sub-Saharan
Africa. Exploration of the potential of
Southern Africa was opened wide.
Positive imagery of South Africa
bombarded people from all over the
world for the majority of 2010. This
imagery helped coax investment
decisions – not only in physical
investment, but also tourism which is
an indirect investment.
Industries which immediately
benefitted from the World Cup were
accommodation, catering, retail
and transport. A major long-lasting
beneficiary was infrastructure.
The introduction of the Gautrain
high speed railway as well as the
upgrade of highways and new bus
lanes has shortened commuting
times and in return, increased
productivity. One of the other
major invaluable benefits was the
incitement of national pride and
exposure for South Africans. This
was also most notable in the 1995

Rugby World Cup which South
Africa used to announce its re-
emergence into international sport,
while simultaneously uniting the
country. This pride is reaffirmed
in the lasting image of President
Nelson Mandela lifting up the
Webb Ellis Cup in the number six
Springbok jersey. This presented a
defining moment for South Africa,
and the recent 2010 FIFA World Cup
again stirred these memories.
The achievements of the host
were only fully comprehended on
reflection of the 2010 FIFA World
Cup. FIFA President Sepp Blatter
gave South Africa nine out of 10 as
a host. The tournament demanded
massive focus and resource
allocation from national, provincial
and city government purses as each
of the nine host cities needed major
adjustments. There were significant
immediate benefits in job increases,
advanced technology, world-class
facilities and improved transport
systems. The social benefits initiated
from spin-off programmes will also
have a lasting impact on South
Africa. The country has proved that
mega-events can be successfully
hosted in a sustainable way by
developing countries. With Africa the
fastest growing region in the world,
this is reassuring news, as the way
has been paved.

The legacy of Nelson Mandela
and 100 years of ANC
As the African National Congress celebrates its 100th year in 2012, we pay tribute to
one of the organisation’s greatest legends. Nelson Mandela, fondly known as Madiba,
was the first president of democratic South Africa from 1994 until 1999 when he
stepped aside as president of the ANC.
Cup when hosts South Africa came
away as champions and the new
president made the symbolic gesture
of lifting the trophy in celebration.
His understanding of human spirit
and pride aided him in uniting the
previously divided country.
Over the decades, Mandela has
received over 250 awards including
the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. In
November 2009, the United Nations
General Assembly declared Mandela’s
birthday “International Mandela
Day” to honour his contribution to
world freedom. On this day every
year, people are asked to spend 67
minutes of their day doing community
service or charitable work. This is in
reference to the 67 years of his life
that Mandela dedicated to freedom.
Physical tributes are also part of
He is a symbol to all of great humility
and reconciliation. Mandela displayed
immense wisdom, strength and grace
in his fight against apartheid. His
pursuit of freedom as a militant activist
which left him imprisoned for 27 years,
as well as his care for children and
love of family are endearing values
which have left a great example for the
human race. His legacy will remain for
centuries to come. Nelson Rolihlahla
Mandela was born on 18th
July 1918.
During his presidency, Mandela
focused on alleviating poverty and
inequality through the introduction of
policies. These were vital foundations
that he laid for the future leadership
of South Africa to build on. One of the
most captivating and iconic images of
Mandela was at the 1995 Rugby World

Mandela’s legacy, such as his statue
in Parliament Square, London, the
six metre statue at Nelson Mandela
Square in Sandton Johannesburg,
Nelson Mandela Gardens in Leeds,
and Nelson Mandela Bridge
in Johannesburg.
Tied closely to Nelson Mandela’s
story is that of the ANC, which
was jointly formed in Bloemfontein
on 8th
January 1912 by chiefs,
representatives of people’s
organisations, churches, and
prominent individuals. Started
as a liberation movement, the
centennial milestone of the ANC is an
achievement which echoes the efforts
of many prominent struggle icons over
the years. The history and heritage
behind the ANC is one which induces
great pride in its supporters who
fought fearlessly for freedom against
racial oppression. In celebration of
the centennial year, there has been
reflection of the traditions and values
of the party. It is important to reflect
on these principles so as to remember
to ensure the core values are upheld
at the forefront of the party.
The ANC’s aim for the centennial is
to celebrate the achievements of the
movement, leave an imprint on the
South African consciousness about
the role of the ANC as the liberator of
the South African people, leave older
generations and participants in the
liberation struggle with memories to
pass on and keep the memory alive
by offering the younger generation
access to the story of liberation.
The centennial is being observed
as a hallmark achievement for South www.anc.org.za
Africa as well as Africa. In the South
African context, the ANC is the
product of the South African struggle
and aimed to liberate Africans and
to unite all South Africans regardless
of colour, in turn transforming the
country. In the African context, the
ANC is a product of the continent’s
struggles for liberation and quest for
unity, peace and security. Not only
is it the continent’s oldest liberation
movement, but also was a foundation
and inspiration for most of today’s
African liberation movements. The
continent offered shelter and security
to many in exile and so played a part
in the freedom South Africa now
enjoys.

Thapelo Letsholo, Global Village Africa
Proudly African
Boosting Trade, Development and
Cultural Relations across Africa.
www.ProudlyAfrican.info
Proudly African is an initiative of
Global Village Africa which is a
marketing and business platform
geared towards showcasing and
harmonising Africa’s development,
trade and cultural diversity to a global
audience.
This is where the BEST OF
AFRICA in business, government
and non-profit organisations unite,
promoting their vision and best
practice in order to find the right
customers, partnerships and joint
ventures - in order to grow alongside
the continent’s indisputable economic
potential.
The initiative has an unstoppable
magnetic presence with its ever
growing country and sectoral window
already in over 20 African states.
We invite all leaders in business
and government across Africa to
showcase and integrate their visions
and activities so as to promote
inter-Africa trade, investment and
technology transfer from around the
globe.
We also invite all Africa’s media,
trade exhibitions, conferences
and business chambers to use the
platform to gain mutually beneficial
exposure.
Fully unlocking Africa’s promise
requires greater continent-wide
economic integration and inter-trade;
such as in Europe, where integration
has enabled the continent to become
the world’s single biggest market.
Integration and inter-trade is not only
urgent, but also indispensable to
unlock economies of scale and propel
Africa’s competitiveness in the global
economy, thus aligning the continent
with the global flows of trade and
finance as an equal partner.
Africa’s massive economic
potential still lies largely untapped -
but not for much longer. The world is
coming and so is the dream of a more
united Africa. We need to make sure
we maximise on the growth for the
benefit of all of Africa and its people.

Minister of Trade and Industry,
Dr Rob Davies (MP)
Since the ushering of the current administration in 2009, the government has focused
on the reorientation of its economic programmes to stabilise the economy and put it on
the job-creating trajectory.
Dr Rob Davies, MP
Minister of Trade and Industry
National callers: 0861 843 384
International callers: +27 12 394 9500
E-mail: contactus@thedti.gov.za
www.dti.gov.za
Dr Rob Davies, MP - Minister of Trade and Industry
The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) has
taken greater cognisance of the need to re-industrialise
the economy and ensure that it can respond to the
challenges of high unemployment, inequality and
poverty. Great strides have been made towards
addressing these challenges despite the existence of
serious constraints.
Such efforts include the New Growth Path (NGP),
which was approved by Cabinet in October 2010. The
NGP has set a target of creating five million jobs by
2020 and has identified manufacturing as one of its key
job drivers. At the centre of the dti’s efforts to support
the manufacturing sector is the Industrial Policy Action
Plan (IPAP), the new iteration of which will build on the
success of our current industrial development plan in
enhancing the local productive capacity. This will be
done through the implementation of carefully identified
transversal interventions to address the structural
challenges and sector-specific interventions to support
sectors that are crucial for the growth of the economy
and can create jobs.
the dti will continue to engage other departments
in the economic sector to facilitate the smooth
implementation of IPAP. This will include refinement of
roles and responsibilities of departments involved in
implementation. A process has been put in place to
ensure that certain functions, such as tourism, forestry
and space, are more properly assigned to the relevant
national departments.
Trade diversification, both in terms of products
and markets, is critical for the recovery of the South
African economy, especially for manufacturing.
Global economic dynamics dictate shifting our export
destinations towards the East, South and Africa,
while acknowledging that the European and American
markets are still significant and cannot be ignored.
South Africa is also required to shift its focus towards
increasing exports of manufactured goods.
Increasing trade with African and Asian countries
will be prioritised. Already, South Africa leads the
African Union’s work on infrastructure investment
such as the North-South Corridor. This continental
infrastructural investment drive is expected to
contribute substantially to the enhancement of the
productive capacity of the continent. Our position
when it comes to economic integration in Africa is
very clear; Africa needs to put more emphasis on
developing industrial capabilities.
Regional industrial initiatives will be explored within
the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) to
support specific sectoral value chains. Emphasis will
also be given to our trade relationship with the BRIC
countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China).
The work on industrial development and broadening
participation will be complemented by the efforts we
are undertaking on the regulatory front. Reforms in the
Companies Act have yielded results in improving the
business environment. We will continue with critical
regulatory reforms that support overall growth and
meaningful economic transformation.

IDC – creating
opportunities in Africa
South Africa is a limited market and our domestic businesses
were inevitably and naturally growing into the rest of the continent.
The IDC already had the skills base
to invest in any sector either on an
equity or debt basis, so we extended
ourselves by dedicating about 10-15
percent of our capital to the rest of the
continent.
The IDC is now invested in virtually
every SADC country; however, we are
also now invested in Nigeria, Ghana,
South Sudan and Egypt, in addition to
SADC. Our investments have primarily
been in mining, but also in tourism,
agriculture and infrastructure such as
telecoms and power.
This is a trend we may expect
to see for some years to come as
the continent’s developmental need
is so great. For IDC and for South
Africa, this is a sensible policy as sub-
Saharan Africa is our logical area of
political influence.
A relatively new market for the IDC
is Zimbabwe, where we already have
investments in two mines, one tourism
project as well as looking at extending
lines of credits to domestic DFIs.
The challenges of Africa are well
known and oft-repeated, though only
now are governments beginning to
talk about these seriously.
The biggest challenge facing
sub-Saharan Africa is the Eurocentric www.idc.co.za
nature of its transportation networks
and trade flows. Intra-Africa trade is
minuscule, yet this in itself provides a
huge opportunity. What is encouraging
is that at Davos, several of Africa’s
presidents began a discussion
regarding the need to beneficiate our
natural exports; for it is in this that the
real opportunity lies to develop Africa.
There is always room for
improvement and for newcomers. For
instance, studies reveal that yields
from African agriculture are low by
international standards and in fact
some African countries have to import
food. Given our space and capacity,
Africa at a minimum should be self-
sufficient.
The increased interest in Africa
expressed by the BRIC nations
requires more careful judgment.
Investment has to be one of win-win
rather than other countries simply
shipping out our raw materials and
creating jobs in their home economies.
When approving inward investments it
should be with the proviso that highly
skilled jobs are created locally as part
of the business plan.
This is particularly important
with the vast infrastructure deficit
on the continent: we must insist
that investment by foreigners is
accompanied by improvements
in infrastructure – then, with each
subsequent development we will find
the local economic base gradually
growing.
We have the model of telecoms.
Investment was made in such a
manner that the roll-out created new
jobs and business opportunities hand-
in-hand with that roll-out. The same
should be insisted on with power and
transport.
In this manner, we will begin to
encourage intra-African trade.
Geoffrey Qhena,
IDC Chief Executive Officer
Geoffrey Qhena, IDC Chief Executive Officer

Vision statement from Executive
Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni,
Councillor Mondli Gungubele
Councillor Mondli Gungubele - Executive Mayor
We have come a long way, as a country; from a pariah to an active participant on the international stage. Similarly, the City
of Ekurhuleni, formed just over a decade ago, is slowly positioning itself to be an active player among the international
family of cities that play host to successful airports.
For decades, Ekurhuleni has been the ‘manufacturing workshop of Africa’, located within the industrial hub of the
Gauteng Province of South Africa. As host to the OR Tambo International Airport, Ekurhuleni is further positioned to
become the first aerotropolis on the African continent.
In this regard, the city’s framework for long-term growth and development incorporates plans and procedures for the
actual development of a successful aerotropolis as a legacy for future generations.
It is my hope and expectation that as you browse through this brief introduction to Ekurhuleni, you will understand
why we are so excited about the future prospects for our residents and visitors alike. I look forward to welcoming you to
Ekurhuleni – our place of peace!
Councillor Mondli Gungubele
Executive Mayor
City of
Ekurhuleni
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality
Tel: +27 11 999 7916
Fax: +27 11 999 8183
www.ekurhuleni.,gov.za

Message from Helen Zille
Premier of the Western Cape
This edition of “Best of South Africa” showcases what the country has to offer, and
highlights the Western Cape as an investment and tourism destination. I think you’ll
agree that the possibilities are incredibly exciting.
Helen Zille Premier of the Western Cape
The provincial government has bold ambitions
to make the Western Cape the trade and
tourism gateway for our country and the African
continent. Our number one priority in this province is
to stimulate job-creating economic growth, because
it is the only sustainable way to beat poverty. The
publication “Best of South Africa” will assist our
province and country in achieving this by marketing
our economic potential to the rest of the world.
Cape Town, with its Majestic Mountain and coastal
scenery, has won numerous awards over the last
few years. It was, for example, rated as the world’s
number one long haul conference destination by the
UK’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events
international survey. Cape Town has also been rated
as the number one city in the Middle East/Africa
Region and number ten globally by the US Travel &
Leisure Magazine.
There are also many reasons why the Western
Cape is a highly attractive investment and foreign
trade destination.
Firstly, the provincial government is doing all it can
to boost investor confidence. This starts with good
clean governance and addressing the key constraints
to investment such as infrastructure backlogs, red
tape and crime.
Secondly, the Western Cape boasts three world
class ports in Cape Town, Saldanha and Mossel Bay.
The ports of Cape Town and Saldanha offer excellent
shipping and cargo services, and Mossel Bay acts as
a hub for the gas industry operating off its shores.
The oil and gas industry is a major investment
opportunity in the province. Other fields include
renewable energy, manufacturing related to the
maritime industry, tourism, information communication
technology, business process outsourcing, call
centres and small business development.
Thirdly, our well-developed road and rail networks
strategically link Cape Town and the province with the
rest of South Africa and its neighbouring countries.
All these factors have created a healthy and
attractive market economy in our province. These
factors are expanded on further in this showcase
of “Best of South Africa”.
I hope you enjoy reading more about what our
country and province has to offer.
Helen Zille
Premier of the Western Cape

Business Unity South Africa
(BUSA)
BUSA is a confederation of business organisations
including chambers of commerce and industry, professional
associations, corporate associations and organisations.
BUSA President, Mrs Futhi Mtoba
Vision
BUSA aims to be a unified and fully
representative organisation that
contributes to a vibrant, transforming
and growing economy in South Africa.
Objectives
BUSA’s objectives are to:-
• Act as the principal representative
of business in South Africa in
its national, sub-continental,
continental and international
spheres of activity so as to
ensure a primary and consistent
representation of the views of the
South African business community.
• Promote broad-based Black
Economic Empowerment by:
- Designing strategies and
programmes aimed at
broadbased Black Economic
Empowerment, having regard
to existing reports, studies and
initiatives;
- Engaging government,
corporate South Africa and
other stakeholders on issues of
broad-based Black Economic
Empowerment;
- Influencing appropriate
legislation to create an enabling
environment;
- Promoting transformation both
within organised business, as
well as at enterprise level.
• Advance and promote initiatives
aimed at job creation and the
alleviation of poverty.
• Act for and represent the views
of its members at national, sub-
continental, continental and
international levels by:
- Acting on behalf of its members
on mandated issues;
- Influencing legislation and policy
in the interests of members;
- Lobbying and advocating
agreed upon positions and
Tel: +27 11 784 8000 • Fax: +27 11 784 8004
Email: busa@busa.org.za • www.busa.org.za
policies with government,
labour, communities and other
stakeholders;
- The commissioning of research
on relevant issues;
- Acting as a caucus for its
membership in appropriate
forums and bodies;
- Arranging representation on
behalf of member organisations,
or nominating representatives
of member organisations, to
commissions, committees or
other institutions in accordance
with decisions taken by
members;
- Co-operating and, where
appropriate, affiliating
with relevant international
organisations and bodies
and representing member
organisations in international
bodies;
- Communicating and consulting
with members on important
international affairs which
may impact on South African
business interests.
• Enable business to play a
meaningful strategic role in South
Africa’s overall development by:
- Promoting South Africa
domestically and internationally;
- Promoting the development
of an economic and social
system based on the
principles of justice, a market
oriented economy, individual
entrepreneurship and equal
opportunities;
- Giving attention to the role of
small and medium business
enterprises in all sectors and
to the development of linkages
between large, medium and
small businesses to the benefit
of the economy as a whole.
It represents South African business
on macro-economic and highlevel
issues that affect it at the national and
international levels. BUSA ’s function
is to ensure that business plays a
constructive role in the country’s
economic growth, development
and transformation and to create an
environment in which businesses of
all sizes and in all sectors can thrive,
expand and be competitive.
As the principal representative
of business in South Africa, BUSA
represents the views of its members
in a number of national structures
and bodies, both statutory and non-
statutory. BUSA also represents
businesses’ interests in the National
Economic Development and Labour
Council (NEDLAC).
Mission
BUSA aims to ensure that organised
business plays a constructive role,
within the context of the country’s
economic growth, development and
economic transformation goals, in
achieving an environment in which
businesses of all sizes and in all
sectors can thrive, expand and be
competitive both nationally and
internationally.

Ilembe District Municipality –
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
His Worship Cllr S.W. Mdabe, Mayor of iLembe District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal
The iLembe District Municipality
together with its Economic
Development Agency, Enterprise
iLembe, recently completed a Spatial
& Economic Development Strategy
for the region considering both the
Low & High Road scenarios for the
long-term. Whilst both scenarios
could be very possible one way or
another, we are confident the region
is extremely well placed for upward
economic growth.
There is a strong positive
sentiment from the business sector
for new direct investment into the
region, creating pressure to deliver
on serviced commercial sites for
occupation, as well as on the
upgrade of existing infrastructure to
accommodate the new demands.
This is an exciting time for the region
as a whole, with the Provincial
Growth and Development Strategy
for the Province of KwaZulu-Natal,
as approved by Cabinet in the last
quarter of 2011, clearly indicating
that the northern corridor will become
the focus of economic growth over
the next 20 years and beyond.
This bodes extremely well for the
district, which will again experience
unprecedented growth once the
worldwide economy manages to find
itself on better footing to allow for
growth to occur once again.
The key economic drivers in
the district are still consistent in
the sectors of agriculture, tourism,
manufacturing and services and as
a district we strive to continuously
bridge the huge divide between
the first and second economies
through the identification, facilitation
and implementation of catalytic
and high impact projects. We are
therefore pleased that the KwaZulu-
Natal Provincial Government
budget addresses both the social
infrastructure as well as economic
infrastructure development. It is a
budget that will stimulate economic
growth and employment creation
in the Province, especially through
infrastructure development. This was

Enterprise iLembe
PO Box 593 Ballito 4420
Cnr Link Road & Ballito Drive
Ballito, KZN, SA
Tel: +27 32 946 1256
Fax: +27 32 946 3515
info@enterpriseilembe.co.za
www.enterpriseilembe.co.za
also articulated by the President in
the 2012 State of the Nation Address.
The philosophy that drives
Enterprise iLembe is therefore built
on global best practice principles
in Local Economic Development.
“Local Economic Development is
a participatory process where local
people from all sectors work together
to stimulate local commercial activity,
resulting in a resilient and sustainable
economy. It is a tool to help create
sustainable jobs and improve the
quality of life for everyone, including
the poor and marginalised.” We think
global and act LOCAL.
We need to ensure that our
actions create confidence in the
communities we serve in order that
we pave the way for future leaders
to be able to pick up from where
others have left off and that there is
continuity and accountability for our
actions.
As a district we are committed
and fully support the National
Development Plan to ensure that
we collectively and collaboratively
embark on a journey towards
equality; where in 2030, South Africa
will be a socially integrated, safe and
sustainable place to live and conduct
business in, we look forward to a
productive economy due to increased
exports, capital investment and
savings; where millions of jobs will
have been created.
His Worship Cllr S.W. Mdabe
Mayor of iLembe District Municipality
KwaZulu-Natal

BRICS and Tripartite Agreement opening
Intra-African trade doors
The world has taken notice of the vast current growth in Africa and for the first time it
seems as though Africa itself has awoken to its own ample potential. Our leaders are
moving to take back control of our resources and utilise our value collectively.
There is now a decisive push towards
developing Intra-African trade.
This new buzzword, popular since
the 2012 African Union Summit
in Ethiopia, seems to be the most
obvious solution to keeping African
commodities for the benefit of
Africans. This however means that
a fine line must be tread; not only
in negotiations and agreements,
but also in ensuring that necessary
international trade exchanges are
maintained.
Africa is a continent made up
of diverse countries with each
following unique codes and practices
in diplomacy and trade. There are
many challenges to overcome for
collaboration, but the value of working
together for Africa’s benefit has been
consensually accepted.
Tripartite Agreement
Also announced at the close of the
18th
Summit of the African Union,
was that Africa is targeting the
establishment of a Continental Free
Trade Area (CFTA) by 2017, which
is currently being negotiated for
operation. The first step in finalising
the CFTA is getting final agreement
on the Tripartite Agreement between
the East African Community (EAC),
the Common Market for Eastern
and Southern Africa (COMESA), and
the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) by 2014. Africa’s
other trade areas would then follow
suit through the example shown by
the Tripartite Agreement.
The Heads of State of COMESA,
EAC and SADC countries agreed to
effectively establish a Tripartite Free
Trade Area (T-FTA) in 2008. Once
established, the T-FTA will constitute
an integrated market of 26 countries
with a combined population of nearly
600-million people and a total gross
domestic product of up to US$1-
trillion.
At the Tripartite Summit held in
Johannesburg on 12 June 2011,
Tripartite Ministers decided to launch
negotiations on the establishment
of the T-FTA. The vision is that the
Tripartite Free Trade Area will be a
mechanism for accelerating African
integration and Intra-African trade
as outlined in the Abuja Treaty
establishing the African Economic
Community. The Tripartite FTA is
welcomed as the solution to the
overlapping membership many
eastern and southern African
countries have through multiple trade
agreements.

With these developments, this is
consequently an opportune time for
innovative South African and African
entrepreneurs to look into how they
can benefit from this extraordinary
growth in export and trade. These
trade agreements will pave a new
path for trade to flow freely between
countries, and these early stages
will see interested parties eagerly
making their stake.
BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India,
China, South Africa)
South Africa’s inclusion in the BRIC
grouping, resulting in the newly
formed BRICS, has allowed it to
act as a gateway and therefore
regulator for import and export on
the continent. This role in trade
negotiation is only viable through
South Africa’s own African trade
agreements. In this way, the
groupings involved in the T-FTA are
given open access to the BRICS
markets, linking South Africa
and the region to over 1-billion
consumers in the BRICS member
regions.
South Africa is the 27th
biggest
economy in the world with a
GDP of $354-billion according to
the IMF. As a first-tier emerging
market, South Africa’s inclusion
in BRICS presents the group with
the opportunity of representing
the emerging world in the greatest
sense.
Benefits of Intra-African Trade
One of the key ways in which
African countries are opening
trade with each other is through
the major drive in infrastructure
development. Intra-African trade
is essentially greater connectivity
between African countries and so
it serves to unify the continent.
With unity comes strength and this
strength is hoped to be reflected in
the economic figures of the years
ahead. Improved infrastructure
and regional corridors will aid
in connecting African countries
together for trade.
Enhanced Intra-African trade
and deepened market integration
will provide improved trade
performance and competitiveness
for the region, contributing
significantly to sustainable
economic growth, job creation and
poverty reduction, foreign direct
investment, industrial development
and continental integration into the
global economy.

The Southern African Development
Community (SADC) has been in
existence since 1980, when it was
formed as a loose alliance of nine
majorityruled States in Southern Africa
known as the Southern African
Development Coordination
Conference (SADCC), with the main
aim of coordinating development
projects in order to lessen economic
dependence on the then apartheid
South Africa.
The founding Member States are:
Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi,
Mozambique, Swaziland, United
Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.
SADCC was formed in Lusaka,
Zambia on April 1, 1980, following the
adoption of the Lusaka Declaration -
Southern Africa: Towards Economic
Liberation.
The transformation of the
organisation from a Coordination
Conference into a Development
Community (SADC) took place on 17
August, 1992 in Windhoek, Namibia
when the Declaration and Treaty was
signed at the Summit of Heads of
State and Government thereby giving
The Southern African
Development Community (SADC)

THE SADC VISION
The SADC vision is one of a common
future, a future within a regional
community that will ensure economic
well-being, improvement of the
standards of living and quality of
life, freedom and social justice and
peace and security for the peoples of
Southern Africa. This shared vision
is anchored on the common values
and principles and the historical and
cultural affinities that exist between
the people of Southern Africa.
the organisation a legal character.
The Member States are Angola,
Botswana, the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi,
Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,
Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland,
United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia
and Zimbabwe.
SADC headquarters are in
Gaborone, Botswana.
SADC Headquarters
Plot No. 54385
Central Business District
Private Bag 0095
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel: +267 395 1863
Fax: +267 397 2848
Email: registry@sadc.int
www.sadc.int
Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão
Executive Secretary

The Common Market for Eastern
and Southern Africa (COMESA)
COMESA’s Priorities and
Objectives
The history of COMESA began in
December 1994 when it was formed
to replace the former Preferential
Trade Area (PTA) which had existed
from the earlier days of 1981.
COMESA (as defined by its Treaty)
was established “as an organisation
of free independent sovereign states
which have agreed to co-operate in
developing their natural and human
resources for the good of all their
people” and as such it has a wide-
ranging series of objectives which
necessarily include in its priorities the
promotion of peace and security in
the region.
However, due to COMESA’s
economic history and background
its main focus is on the formation of
a large economic and trading unit
that is capable of overcoming some
of the barriers that are faced by
individual states. COMESA’s current
strategy can thus be summed up
in the phrase “economic prosperity
through regional integration”. With
its 19 member states, population of
over 389-million and annual import
bill of around US$32-billion with an
export bill of US$82-billion COMESA
forms a major market place for
both internal and external trading.
Its area is impressive on the map
of the African Continent covering
a geographical area of 12 million
square kilometres. Its achievements
to date have been significant.
A Free Trade Area
The FTA was achieved on 31st
October, 2000 when eight of the
member States (namely Djibouti,
Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi,
Mauritius, Sudan, Zambia and
Zimbabwe) eliminated their tariffs
on COMESA originating products, in
accordance with the tariff reduction
schedule adopted in 1992. This
followed a trade liberalisation
programme that commenced in
1984 on reduction and eventual
elimination of tariff and non-tariff
barriers to intra-regional trade.
Burundi and Rwanda joined the
FTA on 1st January 2004. These
ten FTA members have not only
eliminated customs tariffs but are
working on the eventual elimination
of quantitative restrictions and other
non-tariff barriers.
Customs Union
A Customs Union may be defined
as a merger of two or more customs
territories into a single customs
territory, in which customs duties and
Mr Sindiso Ngwenya, Secretary General – COMESA

other measures that restrict trade are
eliminated for a substantial amount of
trade between the merged territories.
The territories, in turn apply the same
duties and measures in their trade
with third parties.
In preparation for a Customs Union
the Eleventh Meeting of the Council
of Ministers held in Cairo, Egypt
adopted a Road Map that outlined
programmes and activities whose
implementation was necessary before
the launching of the Union.
Trade Promotion
Other objectives which will be met
to assist in the achievement of trade
promotion include:
• Trade liberalisation and Customs
co-operation, including the
introduction of a unified
computerised Customs network
across the region.
• Improving the administration of
transport and communications
to ease the movement of goods,
services and people between the
countries.
• Creating an enabling environment
and legal framework which will
encourage the growth of the
private sector, the establishment
of a secure investment
environment, and the adoption of
a common set of standards.
• The harmonisation of macro-
economic and monetary policies
throughout the region.
COMESA Institutions
Several institutions have been created
to promote subregional co-operation
and development. These include:
• The COMESA Trade and
Development Bank in Nairobi,
Kenya
• The COMESA Clearing House in
Harare, Zimbabwe
• The COMESA Association of
Commercial Banks in Harare,
Zimbabwe
• The COMESA Leather Institute in
Ethiopia
• The COMESA Re-Insurance
Company (ZEP-RE) in Nairobi,
Kenya
In addition a Court of Justice was also
established under the COMESA Treaty
and became formally operational in
1998.
Further initiatives exist to promote
cross border initiatives, form a
common industrial policy and
introduce a monetary harmonisation
programme.
What COMESA Offers
COMESA offers its members and
partners a wide range of benefits
which include:
• A wider, harmonised and more
competitive market
• Greater industrial productivity and
competitiveness
• Increased agricultural production
and food security
• A more rational exploitation of
natural resources
• More harmonised monetary,
banking and financial policies
• More reliable transport and
communications infrastructure
The Decision making Process
COMESA has evolved a
comprehensive decision-making
structure at the top of which are the
Heads of State of the 20 member
countries. There is then a Council
of Ministers responsible for policy
making, 12 technical committees
and a series of other advisory bodies
(including specific relations with
partner countries and the business
community). In addition each member
state appoints liaison persons in their
appropriate ministries who form part
of the day-to-day communication
process.
Overall co-ordination is achieved
through the Secretariat, based in
Lusaka, Zambia, who will be happy to
deal with all initial communication.
www.comesa.int

The Treaty for Establishment of the East
African Community was signed on 30
November 1999 and entered into force
on 7 July 2000 following its ratification
by the original three Partner States
– Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The
Republic of Rwanda and the Republic
of Burundi acceded to the EAC Treaty
on 18 June 2007 and became full
Members of the Community with effect
from 1 July 2007.
Mission and Vision
The Vision of EAC is a prosperous,
competitive, secure, stable and
politically united East Africa; and
the Mission is to widen and deepen
Economic, Political, Social and
Cultural integration in order to improve
the quality of life of the people
of East Africa through increased
competitiveness, value added
production, trade and investments.
The EAC’s core values are:
• Professionalism
• Accountability
• Transparency
• Teamwork
• Unity in Diversity
• Allegiance to EAC ideals
Aims and objectives
The EAC aims at widening and
deepening co-operation among
the Partner States in, among
others, political, economic and
social fields for their mutual
benefit. To this extent the EAC
countries established a Customs
Union in 2005 and a Common
Market in 2010. The next phase
of the integration will see the bloc
enter into a Monetary Union and
ultimately become a Political
Federation of the East African
States.
Enlargement of the community
The realisation of a large regional
economic bloc encompassing
Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania
The East African Community
The East African Community (EAC) is the regional intergovernmental organisation of
the Republics of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Rwanda
and Republic of Burundi with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

Achievements
The main achievement has been the implementation of
confidence-building measures that have spurred and
energised Partner States’ efforts in regional integration.
Partner States have expanded the spirit and enhanced
the basis of the Community from the initial threshold of
mere cooperation to a higher level of integration, with the
ultimate objective being political federation.
and Uganda with a combined population of more than
130-million people (2010*), land area of 1.82-million square
kilometres and a combined Gross Domestic Product of
$74.5-billion (2009*), bears great strategic and geopolitical
significance and prospects of a renewed and reinvigorated
East African Community.
Current status
The regional integration process is at a high pitch at the
moment as reflected by the encouraging progress of the
East African Customs Union and the establishment in 2010
of the Common Market.
The negotiations for the East African Monetary Union,
which commenced in 2011, and fast tracking the process
towards East African Federation all underscore the serious
determination of the East African leadership and citizens
to construct a powerful and sustainable East African
economic and political bloc.
Strategic partnerships
Over the years, EAC has laid a strong foundation
for strategic partnerships with international aid and
development agencies including World Bank, European
Union, European Investment Bank, African Development
Bank, Swedish International Development Co-operation
Agency (SIDA), United Nations Economic Commission
for Africa, German Agency for Technical Co-operation
(GIZ), East African Development Bank, United
Kingdom Department for International Development
(DFID), Norwegian Agency for Development (NORAD),
Commonwealth Secretariat and Danish International
Development Agency (DANIDA).
Other development partners with whom EAC expects to
enter into co-operation programmes or has entered into
Memoranda of Understanding with include France, India,
Finland, Canada, Sweden, Norway, International Labour
Organisation, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation,
Austrian Development Co-operation and the World
Meteorological Organisation. www.eac.int
Quick facts
Area (incl. water): 1.82 million sq. km
Population: 133.1 million (2010)
GDP (current market prices): $79.2 billion (2010)
EAC Headquarters: Arusha, Tanzania
First established: 1967
Re-established: 7 July 2000
Official language: English
Summit Chairperson: H.E. Mwai Kibaki
Council Chairperson Hon. Musa Sirma
Secretary General: Amb. Richard Sezibera
Courtesyofwww.eac.int

Infrastructure is on South Africa’s main agenda
During 2012’s State of the Nation Address on the 9th of February, President Jacob
Zuma made it very clear that South Africa’s main focus according to the New Growth
Path is the upgrade and development of infrastructure.
Infrastructure is the key to the
country’s economic growth and will
enable self-sufficiency and entice
investment whilst simultaneously
creating jobs.
The infrastructure drive was
heralded when South Africa won
the bid to host the 2010 FIFA
Football World Cup. The government
immediately increased spending
on infrastructure development
through the build programme. The
economy was stimulated through
the influx in employment numbers.
The National Planning Commission
was established in 2009 in order to
produce a national development plan
for South Africa along the lines of its
constitution.
The first draft of the plan outlines
South Africa’s goals for the next
20 years as well as the aims of
addressing poverty and inequality.
It is hoped that higher growth and
job creation through infrastructure
development will be the solution.
The New Growth Path framework
was launched in 2010 and identified
South Africa’s job drivers as
infrastructure development, tourism,
agriculture, mining, manufacturing
and the green economy. As part of
this, 2011 was a milestone in job
creation in South Africa with the rate
of unemployment coming down from
25% to 23.9% with 365,000 people
employed in the formal sector during
the year.
President Jacob Zuma called on all
South Africans to join government in
the infrastructure development drive.
The drive will be pursued during the
next couple of years through the vast
experience gained during the 2010
FIFA Soccer World Cup to manage
the project successfully. The plan
is being driven by the Presidential
Infrastructure Coordinating
Commission (PICC).
The PICC has identified strategic
projects through five major
geographically-focused programmes:
(focusing on health and basic
education infrastructure, information
and communication technologies,
and regional integration.)
1. Development and integration of
rail, road and water infrastructure
centred around two main areas in
the Limpopo mineral belt
2. Improvement of the movement of
goods and economic integration
through a Durban-Free State-
Gauteng logistics and industrial
corridor.
3. Development of a major new South
Eastern node that will improve
the industrial and agricultural
CourtesyGautrain

development and export capacity
of the Eastern Cape region.
4. Expansion of the roll-out of
water, roads, rail and electricity
infrastructure in the North-West.
Ten priority roads will be upgraded.
5. Improvement of infrastructure
of the west coast which has
enormous potential waiting to be
unlocked.
In addition to these plans, Southern
Africa was dually awarded the bid
to host the Square Kilometre Array
(SKA) radio telescope infrastructure
project along with Australia and
New Zealand. The South African
contingent was bid in partnership
with eight other African countries.
The decision was made on 25 May
2012 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
and Southern Africa was identified as
the preferred site. As a result, South
Africa will host the majority of SKA
dishes in Phase 1 which will be added
to MeerKAT. Further SKA dishes
will be added to the ASKAP array in
Australia. All the dishes and the mid
frequency aperture arrays for Phase
II of the SKA will be built in Southern
Africa while the low frequency
aperture array antennas for Phase
I and II will be built in Australia and
New Zealand.
SKA is the most powerful
telescope in the world and is a major
milestone in utilising the potential of
Africa’s skies through the installation
of 3000 different satellite dishes.
This is a historic moment not only
for Africa, but for the world, in
the advancement of information
technologies.
The North-South Road and
Rail Corridor is another major
infrastructure project for the continent
which South Africa is a major
champion of. This is a Presidential
Infrastructure Championing initiative
of the African Union’s NEPAD which
will open up borders and inter-trade.
The massive investment in
infrastructure aims to leave more than
just power stations, rail-lines, dams
and roads. The hope is that apart from
the physical factors, the country will
be industrialised and skills and jobs
will be generated. President Jacob
Zuma has convened an infrastructure
summit to discuss the implementation
of the plan with potential investors and
social partners.
Extracts from the State of the Nation
Address By His Excellency Jacob G
Zuma, President of the Republic of
South Africa on the occasion of the
Joint Sitting of Parliament, Cape Town,
9 Feb 2012.
CourtesyGautrain
CourtesyGautrain
CourtesyGautrain

Mineral resources, human
resources
South Africa is the world’s biggest
producer of platinum, and one of the
leading producers of gold, diamonds,
base metals and coal.
South Africa holds the world’s
largest natural reserves of gold,
platinum-group metals, chrome
ore and manganese ore, and the
second-largest reserves of zirconium,
vanadium and titanium.
At the same time, there is
considerable potential for the
discovery of other world-class
deposits in areas yet to be
exhaustively explored.
The sector spans the full spectrum
of the five major mineral categories -
namely precious metals and minerals,
energy minerals, non-ferrous metals
and minerals, ferrous minerals, and
industrial minerals.
Apart from its prolific mineral
reserves, South Africa’s strengths
include an extremely high level of
technical and production expertise,
and comprehensive research and
development activities.
The country has world-scale
primary processing facilities covering
carbon steel, stainless steel and
aluminium, in addition to gold and
platinum. It is also a world leader of
new technologies, such as a ground-
breaking process that converts low-
grade superfine iron ore into high-
quality iron units.
Contribution to the economy
With the growth of South Africa’s
secondary and tertiary industries, the
relative contribution of mining to South
Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP)
has declined over the past 10-20
years.
Nonetheless, the industry is
continually adapting to changing
local and international world
conditions, and remains a
Mining and Minerals
South Africa is a world leader in mining. The country is famous for its abundance of
mineral resources, accounting for a significant proportion of world production and
reserves - and South African mining companies are key players in the global industry.

cornerstone of the economy,
making a significant contribution to
economic activity, job creation and
foreign exchange earnings.
The sector accounts for
roughly one-third of the market
capitalisation of the JSE, and
continues to act as a magnet for
foreign investment in the country.
Minerals beneficiation
For over 130 years, South
Africa’s mining industry has
provided the critical mass for
the development of a number
of other world-class industries -
energy, financial services, water
services, engineering services,
specialist seismic, geological and
metallurgical services - that either
supply the mining sector or use its
products.
Not only does the mining sector
use considerable services and
inputs from the domestic economy,
it also supplies many associated
industries that use mining products
to keep the wheels of the South
African economy moving.
For example, 98% of the country’s
cement and more than 90% of the
country’s steel is fabricated locally
from locally produced minerals.
Lucrative opportunities exist for
further downstream processing and
adding value locally to iron, carbon
steel, stainless steel, aluminium,
platinum group metals and gold, and
a wide range of materials are available
for jewellery - including gold, platinum,
diamonds, tiger’s eye and a variety of
other semi-precious stones.
The government has targeted the
downstream or beneficiated minerals
industry as a growth sector, and where
the commercial opportunities exist,
downstream beneficiation is already
taking place.
In 2009, the Chamber of Mines
estimated that around R200-billion in
value was added to the local economy
through the intermediate and final
product industries that use minerals
produced by South Africa’s mines.
www.southafrica.info

Energy
2012 International Year of Sustainable Energy for All.
The African continent is richly bountiful
with vast resources of both natural
and mineral varieties, which remain
largely untapped. Africa seems to be
realising that her resources should
be used to benefit her people. As
a result, a move to sustainable and
careful management of energy is being
undertaken across Africa.
Background
South Africa is a key player in the
African oil industry, with liquid fuels an
important component of their energy
sector. The first oil company was
established in Cape Town in 1884.
Today, South Africa processes around
20-million tonnes of crude oil per year,
consuming 23-million tonnes of liquid
fuel products annually. There are also
a small number of oil and gas fields off
South Africa’s coast and the country
enjoys abundant supplies of coal. The
major liquid fuel markets are held in
Gauteng.
Energy sources
South Africa’s main sources of energy
are Petroleum, Natural Gas, Electricity,
Coal, Renewable and Alternative
Fuels (biofuel, hydro, solar, wind),
and Nuclear. The country has various
plans to implement energy efficiency
in the coming years so as to stick to
the International Year of Sustainable
Energy for All initiative.
Energy Efficiency Regulations
(Programmes and Projects)
• Solar Park;
• Energy Efficiency and Environment;
• Integrated Resource Plan;
• Working for Energy;
• Integrated Energy Plan;
• Solar Water Heating;
• Designated National Authority;
• Energy and Environment
Partnership;
• Renewable Energy Market
Transformation;
• Wind Energy Awareness Campaign;

• South African Wind Energy
Programme.
Renewable energy
This year was declared the
International Year of Sustainable
Energy for All by the United Nations
General Assembly. The aim is to use
the opportunity to raise awareness
about sustainable access to efficient
and renewable energy, in the face
of identified effects on productivity,
health, education, climate change,
food, water, and communication.
Through lack of access to renewable
and sustainable energy, development
is hindered. This UN initiative has
set a target of focusing on achieving
three goals by 2030 by engaging
governments, private sector, and civil
society:
• ensure global access to modern
energy services;
• reduce global energy intensity by
40 per cent; www.energy.gov.za
• increase renewable energy use
globally to 30 per cent.
COP17
All eyes are on South African
renewable energy since hosting
the COP17/CMP7 Climate Change
Conference in Durban at the end of
2011, the second largest meeting
of its kind. A breakthrough on the
international community’s response to
climate change was one of the results.
At the forefront of negotiations were
the Kyoto Protocol, the Bali Action
Plan, and the Cancun Agreements.
On closing, Parties agreed to adopt
a universal climate change legal
agreement no later than 2015. A
plan called “The Durban Platform for
Enhanced Action” was drafted and
accepted at COP17.
Prospects and opportunities
There are numerous oil and gas
opportunities and prospects in Africa,
most notably in renewable energy
and natural gas commodities. After
the quick succession of crude oil
discoveries across the continent,
Africa became the ‘go to’ region
for internationals looking for oil
partnerships in 2011. The major
untapped area of energy resources
in Africa is the renewable energy
sector which provides a window of
opportunity for investment and further
research. The hydro-energy potential
of the continent has 80% yet to be
utilised.
South African targets
• 10,000 GWh of renewables
produced by 2013.
• 3,100 MW of renewable capacity
by 2013, including 500 MW of wind
and 50 MW.
• of concentrating solar power.
• 4% of electricity generation from
renewables by 2013.
• 13% of electricity generation from
renewables by 2020.
With the launch of the South African
Renewable Energy Initiative launched
in 2011 as well as with being a
member of IRENA, South Africa could
achieve their energy goals.

Cape Town named World Design Capital 2014
After a long and dedicated bidding process, Cape Town was announced as The World
Design Capital 2014 on 26 October 2011 at the International Design Alliance Congress
in Taipei, China. This prestigious status is awarded biennially by the International
Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) to cities that are dedicated to using
design for social, cultural and economic development.
Cape Town came out ahead of fellow
short-listed cities, Dublin in Ireland
and Bilbao in Spain. The sought-after
accolade was awarded to Cape Town,
affectionately known as the ‘Mother
City’. The award was accepted by
Executive Mayor of Cape Town,
Patricia de Lille, on behalf of Cape
Town, South Africa and the African
continent. Cape Town is the first city
on the African continent to receive this
award, however there is no reason that
it shouldn’t pave the way for many
more African title holders in the future.
In her acceptance speech De Lille
said: “A city belongs to its people
and it must be designed for and
with them and their communities.
Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille

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